“THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE FOREST” WINS OSCAR-QUALIFYING AWARD
The jury at the 47th Norwegian Short Film Festival was impressed with Szymon Ruczyński's animated short. The film received the main prize in the international competition.
The Norwegian Short Film Festival, held in Grimstad for 47 years, is a film event dedicated to short productions from around the world. The festival is a significant occasion for short film creators, providing a platform to present and discuss new and innovative productions. In addition to the main competition, the festival also organises workshops, panel discussions, and meetings with filmmakers.
The winning film, There Are People in the Forest by Szymon Ruczyński, depicts the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border in a remarkably simple manner. A lonely, limping man is approached by a truck. Armed men jump out, grab him, and take him into the forest. The residents of a nearby village are the only witnesses. Since 2021 situations like this one have become part of everyday life on the Polish-Belarusian border. It's an animated documentary about the refugee crisis created by a resident of a border town.
The International Competition jury awarded the film for its stark warning about the rising tide of cruelty and inhumanity in the world, while also being a tribute to those who resist and find the strength to help their fellow human beings.
You can find all the necessary information about the Norwegian festival on its website.